Music, food and rubbish

Garbage (aka 'rubbish') is not something that the developed world thinks about much. Out of site, out of mind. However, when we were traveling through Central America we thought about it often because it was in front of us everyday; in the sidewalk, on the bus, in the street, in the river, at the bus station, everywhere. But since we’ve been in New Zealand we haven’t thought about it much because it’s kept in bins that are emptied on a regular, reliable schedule. Things down here are orderly and clean. 

This weekend was different. We thought about rubbish all day, every day. The three of us (Erica, too) volunteered at a festival called WOMAD (World of music, art and dance). WOMAD festivals are international; taking place in Chile, UK, Spain, and Australia, too. The New Zealand WOMAD festival has put a special focus in recent years on managing the staggering amount of waste that is generated by a large festival like this. We were placed on the Zero Waste volunteer crew, which worked to support their mission of diverting as much waste as possible from the landfill. We were guarding the waste stations around the camping area, helping people sort their rubbish (recyclables, compost, glass, etc.) into the proper bins. Then we sorted the contents of literally every bag of garbage back at the Zero Waste HQ, ensuring that recyclables and compost didn’t get mixed in with the landfill rubbish. 

It was a really fun and educational experience, not to mention the delicious international foods and music that we enjoyed (free weekend passes for volunteers). We left Erica this morning in New Plymouth and we are now in Wellington to catch an early flight tomorrow for the Philippines. The Southeast Asian adventure begins!

Huddling for warmth and love watching some live music. (A stranger next to us wanted to take this picture because she said we looked cute).

The three of us spent the entire weekend plus a day on either end in this tent!

Rubbish and recycling sorted on Monday afternoon.

The campground rubbish team!

Erica and Jenn stoked to be finished sorting rubbish.

Poetry from the trail

The last ten days have been spent tramping (aka hiking) some fantastic NZ trails and staying in backcountry huts. Jenn and I have been composing some poems along the way.

The Kepler Track (2 long days and one night on the trail)

We're tramping the Kepler Track.
My hip hurts and so does my back.
Elevation we've gained,
Seven hours remain,
'Til we're home with hot tea and a snack.

by Tim

We took a tramp in NZed.
At first I was filled with dread,
but I worked up the gumption, and
prayed t' our Lady of Assumption
to delivery me safe to my bed.

by Jenn


The Copland Track (2 days and one night on the trail)

Pack full of bread, boiled eggs and beer.
Of these swing bridges I have no fear.
Trail strewn with slipp'ry rocks
The hot pools where I kicked off my socks.
Thank god no one's snoring in my ear.

by Tim and Jenn

Don't look down! (Kepler Track)

Mt. Tinsley at sunset from our backcountry hut. (Kepler Track)

Epic views from the trail (Kepler Track)

Lake Te Anau in the background (Kepler Track)

Getting up close on a mushroom (Kepler Track)

The Copland Track is on the west coast and gets heaps of rain, so it's full-on green!

Of these swing bridges I have no fear. (Copland Track)

Geothermal hot pools with thick mud in the bottom. Great for post-hike relaxation. (Copland Track)

We've finally made it out of the woods to Blenheim, in the Marlborough wine region, for a day of biking around to wineries. Now we are off to the North Island to volunteer at the WOMAD music festival with Erica.

Couch Exchange Program (Kiwi Edition)

When we lived in Bozeman we hosted a lot of Couchsurfers; people we had never met that we let into our home for one or two nights based on their online profiles and references left by other Couchsurfing hosts. Over the course of the three years we lived in Bozeman, we hosted a disproportionate number of Kiwis (New Zealanders). For some reason they flock to Montana, probably because the mountain landscape and geothermal hotspots remind them of home. We have spent the last couple weeks traveling the South Island doing what I like to call 'couch exchanges'. We met up with George in Timaru and Tom in Queenstown; two super friendly Kiwis that stayed with us in Bozeman summer of 2014. We also stayed with some family friends that are currently living and working in Waimate (roughly between Timaru and Queenstown). It was lovely to meet up with all these old friends and we still have two more 'mates' to see during the final two weeks of our time in NZ. Tomorrow we are off to do our second Great Walk: The Kepler Track in Fiordlands National Park.

(P.S. We parted ways with Erica after the Abel Tasman Trek since her plan was to continue WWOOFing and ours was to meet up with Couchsurfers and other friends before the three of us meet back up to finish our time in NZ volunteering at a music festival on the North Island.)

Hitch-hiking has been a common form of transportation for us. It is very typical in NZ; locals and tourists alike take part in the hitch-hiking culture of NZ.

Empty chairs memorial for the lives lost during the massive earthquake in Christchurch in 2011 that destroyed a lot of the city. Much of the city has still not been rebuilt. Many city blocks have been turned into parking lots (or 'carparks' as they're called down here).

The ultra blue Lake Tekapo. 

Caroline Bay (Timaru, South Island)

George from Timaru.

Seal taking a break on the beach.

Jenn and Dean (family friend from IA) walk the shingle beach near Waimate, scouring for cool rocks and shells.

Jenn and Cyndy (family friend from IA) admiring the shingle beach.

Giant chair, tiny ponytail.